For the first four weeks of this season, the Chicago Bears' defense was one of the bigger examples of fool's gold in all of football. Sure, Dennis Allen should have received some worthy praise, here and there, but let's be honest.
What we saw in Week 5, against the Green Bay Packers, was far more indicative of this group's expectations going into the season; well, at least what the fans would have expected from them.
Watching the defense struggle both against the Packers and back in Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers wasn't a surprise to the fans who are willing to stay realistic and objective.
Speaking of realistic, now that the Bears are struggling with some injuries on defense to go along with an overall struggling group, what are some realistic trade candidates Ryan Poles could pursue?
While there are plenty around the league, let's rank seven, in particular.
7. DT Zach Sieler, Dolphins
There's a reason Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler is last on this list, and it's primarily because we haven't seen that top-tier level of play out of him in a a couple of years. Now, the fact that the Dolphins have stunk could very well play into that.
But, Sieler may be worthy of an addition. The 31-year-old had back-to-back seasons with 10.0 sacks in 2023 and 2024 and, while he's not quite that guy right now, he still has 2.0 sacks on this current season to go with 11 pressures.
Sieler is not going to help, at all, against the run. So, this is purely a move to make in order to add to the Bears' pass rush.
The hardest part of a Sieler trade would be his contract, which runs through the 2029 campaign. Chicago would take on cap hits of nearly $21 million in 2027 and over $23 million in 2028. If they'd like, they could save roughly $6.5 million by cutting him in 2028.
6. EDGE Will McDonald, Jets
With the New York Jets also a team that's still a ways from competing, it'll be worth keeping an eye on them before the deadline. The Jets drafted David Bailey, who is balling out as a rookie, and could end up moving on from 27-year-old Will McDonald.
The former first-round pick has 18.5 sacks over his last two seasons and has tallied a pair of sacks, so far, this season. He isn't going to be a game-changer when it comes to the run game, but his pass rush potential is greater than the guys Chicago will be lining up without Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo.
Unlike Sieler, McDonald isn't on a long-term contract. He had his fifth-year option picked up for 2027 and would allow the Bears to see what they have before offering an extension.
5. DL A'Shawn Robinson, Buccaneers
Next up, a run specialist. A'Shawn Robinson is only on a one-year contract with the Buccaneers and, despite the Bucs' disappointing start, he has had an excellent season defending the run. The Bears allow the sixth-most rushing yards per game, through five weeks, at 134.5.
Robinson is 31 years old. Considering his age and contract situation, there is a good chance the Bears could get him for no more than a sixth-rounder.
Like some of the others on this list, he isn't going to be a dual-threat. Robinson won't give the Bears' pass rush much help, but he would help out big time against the run.
4. EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, Chargers
Tuli Tuipulotu is smack-dab in the middle because of the fact that he is in the final year of his rookie deal, and the Bears would not only need to trade premium draft capital, but also know that they would be willing to extend him.
The Chargers might stay winless through the trade deadline at this rate, so they're a team worth looking at. Truthfully, Los Angeles could end up blowing it all up by year's end. But only time will tell.
Tuipulotu is only 24 years old, and his sack totals have gone up each year since entering the league as a second-round pick out of Ohio State in 2023. In 2025, he finished with 13.0. So far in 2026, he's tallied 2.0 sacks but an impressive 17 pressures.
Chicago would undoubtedly need to trade a third-round pick, at minimum, for Tuipulotu. But then, they'd need to give him a hefty contract extension. Would Poles be scared of a move like this, or is he willing to do that after having done so with Montez Sweat, watching Sweat's performance drop off?
3. CB Zyon McCollum, Buccaneers
The Bears' cornerback room is a mess. Jaylon Johnson isn't hurt, but he looks like he's done. Barring a miraculous turnaround, the Bears will need to start figuring out his replacement. Johnson has been downright abysmal, running in slow motion and getting beat left and right.
Meanwhile, Tyrique Stevenson has dealt with injury along with his play being questionable, at best. It's fair to say the Bears will need two new cornerbacks next year, whether or not Malik Muhammad plays outside or in the slot.
Zyon McCollum is under contract through the 2028 season and has already tallied the same amount of pass breakups he had all of 2025, with six in five games this year. He isn't an All-Pro talent, but McCollum would at least be a serviceable starter for Chicago.
He's allowed an opposing passer rating of 99.1 and one touchdown in coverage in five weeks.
2. EDGE Josh Sweat, Cardinals
Now, we get to the bigger names. Josh Sweat has been in trade rumors for a while now, and with the way the Arizona Cardinals are being run, I wouldn't doubt there are a few other names who want out of that organization, following Marvin Harrison Jr. out the door.
Sweat is coming off a career season with 12.0 sacks last year but has just one in five games this season. It's hard to judge many Cardinals players right now, with the vibes in Arizona being pretty awful.
The 29-year-old has two years left on his deal after this season, and the Bears could get out of his current 4-year, $76 million contract while saving about $6.5 million next year.
The brutal reality is that the Bears' pass rush has to get better, and with Sweat and Odeyingbo out in the interim, they are going to be in trouble without some reinforcements.
1. EDGE Khalil Mack, Chargers
This is no surprise. Bears fans have wanted a Khalil Mack reunion for a while now, and we've talked about it a few times already. Mack is the perfect target because he is on a one-year deal and continues to play at a high level.
With 3.0 sacks in five games, he's well on pace to surpass his total of 5.5 last season. You'd also have to believe that coming back to Chicago, with a chance to really compete, would light a fire under him.
He thought going to the Chargers would mean a real chance to compete, but as Los Angeles still sits winless on the year, he's got to be thinking this isn't quite what he signed up for.
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It wouldn't take more than a fifth or sixth-rounder to get Mack back to Chicago, and at this rate, he looks to be exactly what this defense needs.
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